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2013 Conservative budget fran

$795-million measures
introduced to connect
Canadians with available
jobs’

By Jane Lytvynenko,
CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief

inance Minister Jim Flaherty

tabled Canada’s Economic
Action Plan 2013 on March 21. The
budget titled “Jobs Growth, and
Long-Term Prosperity” introduces
new skills training and job creation
measures, many of which are tar-
geted at Canada’s youth.

The Conservatives hope to
eliminate the budget deficit in
the next two years.

“T want our country in
a very solid fiscal position,”
said Flaherty, during a press
conference. “Crises are inevitable
from time to time and we have

4

to make sure we are in a strong
fiscal position. We'll get there
in 2015 with fairly moderate
choices.”

Canada Job Grant

With the new Canada Job
Grant program, the Harper
government is looking to
match the unemployed to

job seekers’ needs. It looks to
provide job seekers $5,000 each
from the federal government
that would ideally be matched
by an additional $10,000 from
provincial governments and
employers.

The grant will create
opportunities for apprentices
and provide support to under-
represented groups, such as
youth and Aboriginal Peoples, to
help them find employment.

Businesses who can
provide skills training—such
as community and career
colleges—will be eligible to
receive up to $5,000 dollars

per person of that grant. The
businesses’ and provinces’
contributions will have to match
the federal government. The
program will be finalized after
renewal negotiations of the
Labour Market Development
Agreements in 2014-15 with the
provinces and territories.

Flaherty said he can’t
guarantee all provinces will sign
off on the grant, but remains
optimistic about the plan.

“|The Conservatives] listen
to businesses and persons
who are unemployed,” said
Flaherty. “We have a problem
and we have to fix it. I think the
provincial governments will
listen to ... employers.”

Post-secondary employment

With the budget, the government
announced promotion of
education in science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, and
skilled trades, all of which are
considered high-demand.

- ; is

As a part of the Canada Job
Grant, $19 million over two years
will be reallocated to informing
youth about those fields of study
and the career opportunities
stemming from them. The
budget does not provide details
of where the funding will be
reallocated from.

A total of $70 million over
three years will be invested in
5,000 paid internships for recent
post-secondary graduates. They
will be added onto the 3,000
internships already created with
Economic Action plan 2012.

The Canadian Youth
Business foundation will receive
$18 million over two years if the
foundation can raise $15 million
to match the federal funding.
The non-profit organization
works with young entrepreneurs
develop their business by
providing mentorship, advice
and other resources. The
government hopes this will help
the foundation become self-
sustainable.

Ty jobs, balancing Nee

 

Conservative budget Finance Minister Jim Flaherty | Photo courtesy of Sean Kilpatrick, Vancouver Sun/CP

Research

Research funding will see $37
million per year to support
partnerships with industry
though the granting councils,
including an additional $12
million annually for the College
and Community Innovation
program (CCIP). The CCIP
supports collaboration between
colleges and the industry on
research projects.

The granting councils will
expand eligibility for their
undergraduate and industrial
internships and scholarships
to students who are enrolled in
college bachelor programs.

The finance minister said the
budget will be balanced in 2015.